Where do you Position yourself after a Drop Shot?
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mightyrick
Legend
I usually come to the service line, right at the T. It's close enough that I can hit a volley for a winner if the opponent hits a weak shot. It is far enough away that I can back up to take an overhead if the opponents lobs it over my head.
Limpinhitter
G.O.A.T.
It depends on where you hit your dropshot from.
(1) If you are hitting a dropshot on a short ball in the alternative to an approach shot, you should continue to the net and smother the shot - make opponent try to get it around or over you.
(2) If you're hitting a dropshot from inside the baseline but not far in enough to come to net, move in behind the shot to about half way to the service line to the side of the court you hit the drop shot on (cover dtl), and make the opponent hit cross court so you can follow up with a dtl pass.
Remember, a drop shot is most effective when the opponent has the least amount of time to respond to it. Therefore, scenario (1) in alternative to an approach shot, is the best time to go for a drop because it's the shortest shot (that increases your accuracy and touch), and the opponent has the least amount of time to react to it. A drop attempt from near or behind the baseline is a tactical error and a low % shot because it's too hard to hit the ball that far, keep it low to the net without an UE, and keep it from bouncing up for an easy putaway, and it gives the opponent too much time to see it coming.
PS: One error that many players make is to think that a dropshot has to be an outright winner. It doesn't, and going for a drop winner is usually a low % play. If you draw a weak return that you can hit in to the open court, that's just as good, and more likely to succeed.
(1) If you are hitting a dropshot on a short ball in the alternative to an approach shot, you should continue to the net and smother the shot - make opponent try to get it around or over you.
(2) If you're hitting a dropshot from inside the baseline but not far in enough to come to net, move in behind the shot to about half way to the service line to the side of the court you hit the drop shot on (cover dtl), and make the opponent hit cross court so you can follow up with a dtl pass.
Remember, a drop shot is most effective when the opponent has the least amount of time to respond to it. Therefore, scenario (1) in alternative to an approach shot, is the best time to go for a drop because it's the shortest shot (that increases your accuracy and touch), and the opponent has the least amount of time to react to it. A drop attempt from near or behind the baseline is a tactical error and a low % shot because it's too hard to hit the ball that far, keep it low to the net without an UE, and keep it from bouncing up for an easy putaway, and it gives the opponent too much time to see it coming.
PS: One error that many players make is to think that a dropshot has to be an outright winner. It doesn't, and going for a drop winner is usually a low % play. If you draw a weak return that you can hit in to the open court, that's just as good, and more likely to succeed.
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Sreeram
Professional
Strange, only Murray and Ferrer are the pro players who can return a drop shot cross court. Else most of them do it down the line. There is no need for you to cover the cross court, exposing the easy down the line return.
Drop shot is different from normal shot, it is tough to return it cross court, it is easy to just life it down the line so you better cover the easy one.
LuckyR
Legend
I would respectfully disagree that the answer to the OP's question lies with you, I would say that the answer lies with the other guy. If he is a great touch player (who can pop a lob over your head if you rush the net or hit a crazy CC shot 4 feet from the net if you stay back) then why did you hit a drop shot to begin with? If they aren't a touch player, then I would stand at the center of possible returns just inside the baseline. any shot that is not a return dropper should be an easy passing shot for you. You will be in an OK position to return a dropshot off of your dropshot, partially because you will be looking for it.
Problem with relying on YOUR passing shot is that the incoming fetch by your opponent is likely slow, low, very backspun and sometimes skidded. You guys have written hundreds of times how hard it is to hit clean topspin shots off those low skidders. Smart opponent looks at you in NML, underspins it directly AT YOU, so you have to get out of the way to hit the ball, and therefore, you're out of position for a passing shot.
Best to use your volley stroke to respond to his shot. A volley stroke can be hit anywhere without prep, can be lobbed and hit right back low at him, or behind him, or DTL.
Best to use your volley stroke to respond to his shot. A volley stroke can be hit anywhere without prep, can be lobbed and hit right back low at him, or behind him, or DTL.
thug the bunny
Professional
I don't have a good DS overall, and my attempts usually land gently at the service line and sit up. So, my position is to crouch in a fetal pose and cover my face so I don't get hit in a vulnerable place!
LuckyR
Legend
True, for those with a Modern Game, hitting passes off of low skidding, low pace shots can be trouble, but for those of us with Classic strokes it is actually a pretty easy shot.
RyanRF
Professional
It depends on how good your dropshot is.
If you hit a proper dropshot, your opponent will really only have two choices: lob or counter-drop. The best place for you to be to deal with either of these is on the T.
If you hit a dropshot and see that it's going to sit up too high, then stay a little further back and get ready to scramble.
If you hit a proper dropshot, your opponent will really only have two choices: lob or counter-drop. The best place for you to be to deal with either of these is on the T.
If you hit a dropshot and see that it's going to sit up too high, then stay a little further back and get ready to scramble.
Here's the main problem with this thought about passing shots past a guy who just ran his butt off to retrieve your dropshot.....
You just dropshotted him ON PURPOSE!
He's atop the net slighty winded after a long run.
WHY would you allow him a putaway, one where you have to CHOOSE DTL, or sharp CC, WHEN HE'S ATOP THE NET!
YOU dropshotted him.
Why not have a preplanned lob over his head?
HE'S ATOP THE NET, and easy lob for you.
You just dropshotted him ON PURPOSE!
He's atop the net slighty winded after a long run.
WHY would you allow him a putaway, one where you have to CHOOSE DTL, or sharp CC, WHEN HE'S ATOP THE NET!
YOU dropshotted him.
Why not have a preplanned lob over his head?
HE'S ATOP THE NET, and easy lob for you.
Cindysphinx
G.O.A.T.
Good thought, but it doesn't pay enough attention to The Fear Factor. Ya gotta strike fear into the opponent so that they will miss. You can't do that by hanging around just inside the baseline.
The best outcome when you hit a drop shot is that the opponent misses her shot outright. This is more likely to happen if you get as close as you dare. Make them panic. If they do lob, you can always turn and run it down. Most folks I play against don't even attempt a lob because it is so hard to control. Most shovel it deep down the line, which is hard if I am all up in their grill. I think going inside the service box in front of the ball is a good play.
Wow, if tennis was only as easy and with as few options as you mentioned.
Dropshot me, and IF I can get there, I will make you look clumsy, uncoordinated, or run you to shreds. Not speaking to CindyS here, but just generally.
When you run for a dropshot, you have options slice deep DTL, short angle sharp sliced CC, or sliced CC and DTL lobs. The last is used ONLY if the person who dropped you decided to move into service line position. A sliced lob is the easiest lob to make and control it's depth.
Watch any top level match. Dropper moves near service line, moving forwards at the splitstep, but at least 4' behind the service line, covers the DTL shovel, is ready to lunge CC, is in position to cover all but the perfect CC deep lobs.
Dropshot me, and IF I can get there, I will make you look clumsy, uncoordinated, or run you to shreds. Not speaking to CindyS here, but just generally.
When you run for a dropshot, you have options slice deep DTL, short angle sharp sliced CC, or sliced CC and DTL lobs. The last is used ONLY if the person who dropped you decided to move into service line position. A sliced lob is the easiest lob to make and control it's depth.
Watch any top level match. Dropper moves near service line, moving forwards at the splitstep, but at least 4' behind the service line, covers the DTL shovel, is ready to lunge CC, is in position to cover all but the perfect CC deep lobs.
Mick
Legend
the ex-tennis pro tv commentators always say after you hit a good drop shot, you have to move to net because a popular response to a good drop shot is another drop shot.
mightyrick
Legend
You are correct here, Lee. But for recreational players, a few of these are low percentage shots. In the case of a DTL slice, that takes incredible touch and precision to be able to hit that shot on the run... lunging. The same with the sharp cross-court slice.
I think for most recreational players, the lob or the weak retort is the best most will do. Some might be able to return the dropshot with another dropshot. But the DTL deep and cross-court slice is pretty tough for someone who is 3.5... or even 4.0... I think.
fruitytennis1
Professional
Pretty much said everything right here^^^
Sure, go ahead and try to lift it over the high part of the net on the full scramble while making sure not to hit it anywhere near me or out of bounds. You sure do make it sound like an easy pass.
I think if you think about it, we should have the necessary shots before we can assume we have the CHOICE of shots.
Easy to CC sharp angle, going over the low netcord, angle easy to achieve because you are running AT the ball, not to the side of it.
DTL a little harder for sure, but setup is while running, and it's the winner return with depth, not ball speed.
Lobs only if the dropshottER is dumb enough to move forwards into service line or forward position. LONG run back with little time.
Like said, smart dropshotter moves forward in NML to a position 4' behind the service line, momentum just forward, cover DTL, get ready to lunge at the CC attempt.
How often do we criticize "TV commentators" ? ALL THE TIME! They might know a thing or two, but they are catering to a general NON playing audience.
Easy to CC sharp angle, going over the low netcord, angle easy to achieve because you are running AT the ball, not to the side of it.
DTL a little harder for sure, but setup is while running, and it's the winner return with depth, not ball speed.
Lobs only if the dropshottER is dumb enough to move forwards into service line or forward position. LONG run back with little time.
Like said, smart dropshotter moves forward in NML to a position 4' behind the service line, momentum just forward, cover DTL, get ready to lunge at the CC attempt.
How often do we criticize "TV commentators" ? ALL THE TIME! They might know a thing or two, but they are catering to a general NON playing audience.
LuckyR
Legend
I do exactly that in doubles. Partially because I don't have to worry about the lob over my head. I play against a large number of touch players who definitely have that shot in their arsenal. But the OPs post is about singles. I don't play a ton of singles but when I do it is against similar players. I have had good luck hanging back, taking away the lob and enticing the other guy into a return dropper (that I am anticipating) or if my shot is good enough they will try to hit a fantastic touch shot either at me (as Lee mentioned) or at a descent (but not crazy good) angle, but their ability to pull off this shot is variable, especially if my shot was good or they are a bit slow afoot. Thus my experience with many returns of droppers that lead to easy passes.
Lee is correct: a lob off of their shot is a great choice... if you possess a good lob, which I personally don't.
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LuckyR
Legend
I don't doubt that your observation is correct but if accurate, why would you hit droppers to those guys?
If you know me at all, you'd know I have not run in almost 3 years due to a sprained ankle. Since I cannot run, dumbest thing I can do is hit baseline basher style, making me run back and forth along the baseline.
I can still move forwards OK, moving back is a chore, but for any 62 year old, it's a chore.
So drop shotting young rabbits brings them off their baseline bash game, forces them to use some transition, and get's them right atop the net, where I can make them run back to the baseline.
When they do some running, I do less running. Since I can't run, less is more...
I can still move forwards OK, moving back is a chore, but for any 62 year old, it's a chore.
So drop shotting young rabbits brings them off their baseline bash game, forces them to use some transition, and get's them right atop the net, where I can make them run back to the baseline.
When they do some running, I do less running. Since I can't run, less is more...
Rui
Semi-Pro
95% of all dropshots are ill-advised. They are usually run down and returned around you. It's an easy re-dropshot by your opponent, so you have cover forward. It's worse the more to one side of the court your DS goes because of the CC angle it opens.
That, and many DSs are hit to get the point over with one way or another. Or, to toy with an opponent. You really have to know why you're hitting one to effectively use it.
That, and many DSs are hit to get the point over with one way or another. Or, to toy with an opponent. You really have to know why you're hitting one to effectively use it.
LuckyR
Legend
If you know me at all, you'd know I have not run in almost 3 years due to a sprained ankle. Since I cannot run, dumbest thing I can do is hit baseline basher style, making me run back and forth along the baseline.
I can still move forwards OK, moving back is a chore, but for any 62 year old, it's a chore.
So drop shotting young rabbits brings them off their baseline bash game, forces them to use some transition, and get's them right atop the net, where I can make them run back to the baseline.
When they do some running, I do less running. Since I can't run, less is more...
Oohhh, I get it. Your situation is extremely familiar to me as I play with a great number of retired folks, many of whom were quite good in the Golden Age of tennis. Often times injury forces them to turn into what I call a slicer/dicer.
More power to you. But be aware that because of your circumstances you had too much experience with hitting dropshots in situations that the average player (likely including the OP) should never encounter since they have much better options.
I'd assume most players can volley, hit overheads, hit backhands, and serve.
A drop shot is something everyone needs on their volleys, or the opponent just camps 5' behind the baseline and runs down your volleys. The dropshot is part of the short angle CC volley, the putaway CC so nobody can reach it on once bounce.
Kinda like the heavy top/slice or top/twist second serve. You can't talk tactics until you can hit and return
those.
A drop shot is something everyone needs on their volleys, or the opponent just camps 5' behind the baseline and runs down your volleys. The dropshot is part of the short angle CC volley, the putaway CC so nobody can reach it on once bounce.
Kinda like the heavy top/slice or top/twist second serve. You can't talk tactics until you can hit and return
those.
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